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Canada's Liberal Party has emerged victorious in the 2025 federal elections, paving the way for Mark Carney to become the country's next Prime Minister. As the party prepares to form a new government, its immigration platform is set to bring significant changes to the country's policies. The Liberals aim to stabilise Canada's immigration system by adjusting both permanent and temporary resident levels, addressing concerns about the strain on housing and public services, per CIC News.
The party's platform acknowledges that the previous government's immigration policies allowed levels to rise at an "unsustainable" pace. To address this, the Liberals propose stabilising permanent admissions at less than 1% of Canada's population annually beyond 2027. Notably, the current Immigration Levels Plan already targets numbers below this threshold, with permanent resident targets set at 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.
Temporary resident levels have also come under scrutiny, with the Liberals aiming to reduce the number of temporary residents to below 5% of the population by the end of 2027. This goal would be achieved through temporary residents transitioning to permanent status or leaving Canada as their permits expire. The party's leader, Mark Carney, emphasised the need for caution, stating that "immigration caps will remain in place until we've expanded housing, and we've reabsorbed the levels of immigration that have happened in our country (during the pandemic)."
The Liberals' platform also includes plans to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec to 12% by 2029, exceeding the current federal targets of 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027. This initiative aims to strengthen French-speaking communities across Canada. To support the economy, the party proposes updating the Global Skills Strategy program to help Canadian employers attract international talent through fast-track work permit processing.
Furthermore, the Liberals promise to modernise the immigration system by leveraging digital tools to reduce processing delays and clear backlogs. They also commit to providing legal aid to asylum seekers and refugees, ensuring timely access to legal advice, and removing failed claimants after due process has been completed. The party's platform additionally outlines plans to enhance border enforcement, tighten visa screening processes, and collaborate with the government of Quebec to manage immigration.
As the Liberal Party prepares to implement these changes, Canada's immigration landscape is poised for a significant shift.
On Tuesday, the idyllic town of Pahalgam in Kashmir - often referred to as India's "mini Switzerland" - was shattered by a gruesome terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
Allegedly targeted for not offering prayers, they were gunned down in cold blood, a first-of-its-kind unprovoked attack on civilians in a region that had long been considered an oasis of peace, even during Kashmir's darkest chapters.
Unlike neighbouring areas like Anantnag or Pulwama that have endured insurgency-related violence for decades, Pahalgam had remained untouched. The attack not only stunned the nation but also severed, perhaps indefinitely, Bollywood's tentative rekindling of its once-flourishing relationship with the valley.
Local voices painted a stark picture. "Humaari toh rozi roti gayi," said a shopkeeper in the bustling main bazaar of Pahalgam. For thousands whose livelihoods depended on tourism and film shoots, the tragedy brought with it not just mourning but economic devastation.
The cinematic history of Pahalgam began in 1983 with the release of Betaab, the debut film of Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh. Directed by Rahul Rawail, the film was a sweeping romance set against the breathtaking backdrops of lush meadows, pine forests and snow-capped peaks.
The love story between two youngsters from different worlds struck a chord, but what left an indelible mark was the location.
A still from Betaab
Such was the film's visual impact that the area where it was shot came to be known as "Betaab Valley", a name now officially marked on the tourist map of Jammu & Kashmir.
It became one of the most photographed and visited destinations in the Valley, pulling in both film crews and tourists for decades.
Following Betaab, a wave of filmmakers turned their lens toward Kashmir. Films like Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) starring Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore, had already captured Pahalgam's beauty, but the post-Betaab era saw a marked uptick in big-budget productions choosing the Valley as their set.
A still from Kashmir Ki Kali
Between the 1960s and 1980s, Kashmir was a central hub for Bollywood films. Known for its breathtaking landscapes, it became the setting for numerous iconic movies that have defined Indian cinema. Films like Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Arzoo (1965), Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), and Kabhi Kabhie (1976) featured the majestic Dal Lake, lush meadows and snow-capped mountains.
A still from Silsila
The grandeur of Kashmir was captured in classics like Silsila (1981), Satte Pe Satta (1982), and Roti (1974), which created an inseparable link between Bollywood and Kashmir.
The 1990s were marked by a wave of militancy in Kashmir, particularly in areas like Anantnag, Pulwama and Sopore. Bollywood pulled back, no longer willing to risk shooting in a region that had turned volatile. Pahalgam, despite being relatively untouched by violence, suffered from the broader perception that Kashmir was "unsafe".
The tide began to turn in the 2000s. After a hiatus of 28 years, Kashmir's silver screen presence was reignited by director Imtiaz Ali, who in 2011 decided to film Rockstar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri, in the famous Betaab Valley.
A still from Rockstar
The choice of location was not coincidental: the valley had earned fame decades earlier with the 1983 film Betaab. Imtiaz Ali's film brought Kashmir back into the cinematic fold, and soon, the Valley's magic was discovered by more filmmakers.
In 2012, Bollywood's "Badshah", Shah Rukh Khan, visited Pahalgam for Jab Tak Hai Jaan. The film's romantic track Jiya Re, shot against the stunning Betaab Valley, reintroduced the Valley to a global audience. The Valley's pristine beauty, captured by Yash Chopra's camera, signalled the revival of Kashmir as a film destination, and Bollywood's love affair with the region was reborn.
A still from Jab Tak Hai Jaan
In 2013, Ranbir Kapoor returned to the snow-clad landscapes of Gulmarg and Pahalgam for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani alongside Deepika Padukone, shooting in temperatures as low as -6.7°C.
A still from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Despite the 2014 floods, which devastated Kashmir and led to massive loss of life and property, filmmakers did not shy away. Films like Fitoor (2014), an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, was filmed around Srinagar's Dal Lake and Pahalgam.
The same year, Highway, starring Alia Bhatt, was shot in the Aru Valley in Pahalgam. The film, released in 2015, focused on the themes of freedom and escape, and used Kashmir's landscapes as a metaphor for the protagonist's emotional journey.
A still from Highway
Haider (2014), directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, was shot in Pahalgam and other parts of the Kashmir Valley.
Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) shot scenes in Pahalgam that doubled for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, was also shot in Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Srinagar.
A still from Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Aside from this, Sam Bahadur, which tells the story of India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, was shot in Pahalgam and Srinagar, both located in the Kashmir region.
Each film contributed not just to India's pop culture memory but also helped rebuild Kashmir's image as a safe, scenic haven. The shoots brought in money, visibility, and jobs. Hotel occupancy rose, homestays thrived, and a new generation of Kashmiris saw Bollywood not as a distant dream but a tangible opportunity.
The abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 also played its part. This constitutional change revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and was followed by the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Film Policy in 2021.
Supported by actors like Aamir Khan and filmmakers such as Rajkumar Hirani, the policy aimed to bring normalcy by attracting filmmakers back to the Valley.
The results were swift. The plan seemed to work. Pahalgam emerged as a symbol of Kashmir's rebirth. Until now.
Unlike other parts of Kashmir Valley that have been theatres of violence, Pahalgam had, until now, managed to stay insulated. There had never been a major terror attack in this scenic locale. That's why the recent attack hit harder. It wasn't just a humanitarian tragedy - it was a psychological blow.
The terrorists wore "clothes similar to those of local police" and opened fire. One of the survivors said there were several tourists around, but the terrorists specifically targeted men after asking whether they were Hindus or Muslims.
"This has never happened here before," said one local, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Pehli baar aisa hua hai Pahalgam mein. Humaari toh rozi roti gayi."
For the locals, the consequences are immediate and severe. "We depend on tourists. If they stop coming, what will we eat?" asked a vendor near the Lidder River.
Ironically, it is Emraan Hashmi's film Ground Zero, a movie on the killing of terrorist Ghazi Baba, that now marks an abrupt halt to Bollywood's cautious affair with the valley. Starring Emraan and Sai Tamhankar, the film wrapped up shooting in Pahalgam days before the terror attack. In a cruel twist, the title has become eerily prophetic.
For now, the clapboards have closed and the cameras have stopped rolling. This attack in Pahalgam, the region that had long been Kashmir's crown jewel and safest bet, has cut short a story that had just begun to be re-written.
From Betaab to Ground Zero, what started as a romantic saga now risks becoming a closing chapter.
US President Donald Trump strongly condemned the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of the "heinous attack".
"President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump @POTUS called PM @narendramodi and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump @POTUS called PM @narendramodi and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 22, 2025
President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring…
Trump "strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror," Mr Jaiswal said.
Terrorists opened fire at a popular tourist spot near Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly holidayers from other states, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
PM Modi, who was on a two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, cut short his visit and decided to return to New Delhi on Tuesday night, as the terror attack sent shockwaves in the country and drew widespread condemnation and outrage. He was originally scheduled to return to India on Wednesday night.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump had been briefed about the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir by the National Security Advisor, and he's being kept up to speed as more facts are learned. "What we know already is dozens were killed and even more were injured in a brutal terrorist attack in a popular tourist location in South Kashmir," she said.
Leavitt had said that Trump would speak with Prime Minister Modi "as soon as he possibly can to express his heartfelt condolences for those lost." "Our prayers are with those injured, and our nation's support for our ally, India. These types of horrific events by terrorists are why those of us who work for peace and stability in the world, continue our mission," she said.
Earlier in a post on Truth Social, Trump condoled the terror attacks in Kashmir, saying the US stands strong with India against terrorism.
"Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!" Trump said in the post on Truth Social. US Vice President J D Vance, who is in India with his wife Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, also extended condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam. "Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack." National Security Advisor Mike Waltz termed the terror attacks as "a terrible tragedy". "Please join me in praying for the victims and their families," he said.
State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a post on X that the "United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Kashmir. Nothing can justify such a heinous act killing tourists and civilians. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. We continue to monitor the situation and call for perpetrators to be held accountable." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, quoting the State Department's post on X said "The United States stands with India."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
A team of scientists have confirmed the existence of a lone black hole that has no star orbiting it in the Milky Way galaxy. Based on observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, the study, published in the Astrophysical Journal earlier this month, establishes the identity of the stellar object the team had discovered several years ago.
In 2022, Kailash Sahu, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and his colleagues discovered a "dark object" meandering in the Sagittarius constellation. However, their findings at the time were disputed, with a section of scientists claiming the body was instead a neutron star.
However, the team continued studying the object and has now found more evidence backing up their original claim that it is likely a lone black hole. Having peered through the data between 2011 to 2017 for their initial attempt, the researchers looked through the data between 2021 and 2022 from Hubble as well as the Gaia space probe, to make better assertions.
Notably, prior to the current finding, all black holes that scientists have ever identified have been spotted with a companion star. Since black holes 'suck' all the light, it is difficult to spot them, if not for the presence of a companion star due to an effect called gravitational lensing.
However, Mr Sahu and his team managed to notice the black hole after it passed in front of a distant non-companion star, magnifying its light and shifting its position in the sky for a short while. They found that the 'dark object' they were pursuing was approximately seven times as massive as the sun -- showing that it could not be a neutron star.
Also Read | Scientists Discover 'Olo': A New Colour Beyond Human Vision
The lone black hole is located 5,000 light-years away from Earth, which is much closer than the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, located at the centre of the Milky Way, 27,000 light-years away.
Based on the findings, Mr Sahu and his team are hoping to find more examples, using the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in 2027.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that politeness from the users towards ChatGPT is costing his company millions of dollars. Users saying phrases such as "please" and "thank you" at the end of their search queries was putting additional computational strain on the systems, leading to an uptick in operational expenses.
Mr Altman revealed the extent of operational costs after a user on X (formerly Twitter) innocently wondered about the price of being polite to the artificial intelligence (AI) models.
"How much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying "please" and "thank you" to their models," wrote the user.
As the post went viral, Mr Altman replied: "Tens of millions of dollars well spent."
He added: "You never know."
I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying “please” and “thank you” to their models.
— tomie (@tomieinlove) April 15, 2025
Reacting to Mr Altman's statement, one of the users said: "I feel this can be solved incredibly easily with client side code answering you're welcome lol."
Another added: "If they really wanted to save on electricity, they'd stop having it end every answer with a question."
Also Read | ChatGPT's "Creepy" Behaviour Irks Users: "Feels Like Privacy Invasion"
ChatGPT has been witnessing a surge in users in recent weeks, especially after the Ghibli-style AI art trend went viral. Average weekly active users breached the 150 million mark for the first time this year.
According to a Goldman Sachs report, each ChatGPT-4 query requires approximately 2.9 watt-hours of electricity, which is about ten times more than a standard Google search. With OpenAI handling over one billion queries daily, this translates to a daily energy consumption of approximately 2.9 million kilowatt-hours.
Earlier this week, OpenAI launched two new reasoning models to beat the likes of Google, Meta, xAI, Anthropic, and DeepSeek in the cutthroat global AI race. As per the Altman-led company, o3 achieves state-of-the-art performance on SWE-bench verified -- a test measuring coding abilities, scoring 69.1 per cent. Meanwhile, the o4-mini model achieves similar performance, scoring 68.1 per cent.
US President Donald Trump on Friday evening shared a photograph that he claimed showed the tattooed knuckles of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was deported to El Salvador last month amid controversy.
The image, posted to Trump's social media accounts, purported to be "proof" that Abrego Garcia is a member of the violent MS-13 gang. But the photo is now under scrutiny, with critics - including tech experts and political opponents - suggesting it was digitally manipulated.
Abrego Garcia, 29, was deported, but his legal team argues that it was against US law.
Trump's post, featuring a black-and-white photo of a man's knuckles with the letters "MS-13" above four small symbols, was accompanied by a caption attacking Democrats for allegedly defending "a fine and innocent person" who Trump insists is a violent gang member.
"This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such "a fine and innocent person." They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he's got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc. I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump's post read.
This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such “a fine and innocent person.” They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he's got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found… pic.twitter.com/31sNr2k1SK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2025
Almost immediately, the image began drawing accusations of digital doctoring. Several users on social media platforms noted discrepancies in lighting and typography on the tattoo. "'MS-13' looks like it was typed on the photo," one user wrote, while others pointed to the pixelated appearance and alignment of the letters as evidence of tampering.
Linda Higgins, a former Minnesota state senator, responded on X (formerly Twitter): "Hey Old Man, @realDonaldTrump, have someone teach you about Photoshop. This is an excellent example of altering a photo, in this case to make your illegal actions look good."
Though Trump has insisted the image confirms Abrego Garcia's gang membership, court documents filed by US government attorneys have never mentioned tattoos as part of their case.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi this week released documents claiming that Abrego Garcia was known by the gang rank "Chequeo" and street name "Chele," but the filings did not include any photographic or physical evidence to establish gang membership.
Several social media sleuths pointed to older images of Abrego Garcia, including videos posted by his wife on TikTok, that show tattoos on his knuckles but not the text "MS-13."
Abrego Garcia arrived in the US as a 16-year-old in 2011, fleeing threats from Barrio 18 gang members who extorted his family's small food shop in El Salvador. His family had feared he would be recruited by criminal groups. He began working in construction in Maryland and later became the main provider for his family of five, including two children with autism.
In 2019, he was detained outside a Home Depot by an anti-gang unit. A confidential informant claimed he was affiliated with MS-13. Yet, an immigration judge later ruled that deporting him would put him at risk, allowing him to remain in the US with a work permit.
That protection was upended this March, when he was detained while shopping with his son and swiftly deported to El Salvador within three days, despite the standing court order.
In a case that has sparked debate in Ireland, a woman continued to collect her dead mother's pension for three years, claiming it was a way to keep her memory alive. The incident came to light in County Meath, where authorities recently discovered that pension payments intended for an elderly woman- who had died years earlier- were still being withdrawn.
According to the Irish Mirror, 56-year-old Catherine Byrne, the woman's daughter, never registered her mother's death or informed the Department of Social Welfare, allowing the payments to continue unnoticed for over 36 months.
The case was eventually brought before the Dundalk Circuit Court, where Catherine admitted to withdrawing the money but insisted it was not used for personal luxury. Instead, she claimed the funds were spent on flowers for her mother's grave, calling it her way of keeping her mother "alive".
Despite the emotional explanation, the court ruled the act as serious welfare fraud. Catherine was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and ordered to repay the funds in weekly instalments of 12,000 Euros to the Department of Social Welfare. The total amount taken was not disclosed, but officials said a full recovery would be pursued.
The unusual case has raised concerns over gaps in death registration systems and the potential for similar oversights in public welfare payments.
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni added another feather to his cap in his illustrious career and further cemented his legacy in the world of cricket by becoming the first player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to complete 200 fielding dismissals. Dhoni achieved the feat during the Chennai Super Kings encounter against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. Following his heroics behind the stumps in Lucknow in the 14th over, the seasoned wicketkeeper became the first player to script the feat to his name. Ayush Badoni, who was trying to increase the run flow in the middle overs, strolled out of the crease while trying to take on Ravindra Jadeja.
But Jadeja, with his experience, used his pace and line to beat Badoni's bat. Dhoni, with lightning-quick speed, collected the ball and ignited the bails in a flash by dislodging them off the stumps.
In his 271st IPL appearance, Dhoni breached the 200-dismissal mark by successfully completing his counterpart Rishabh Pant's catch in the final over as LSG packed their innings on 166/7. The seasoned wicketkeeper batter boasts 201 dismissals, consisting of 155 catches and 46 stumpings.
Former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik occupies the second spot with 182 dismissals under his belt. Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon AB de Villiers sits in the third spot with 126 dismissals to his name.
In his record-shattering fixture, Dhoni won the toss and decided to put Lucknow to bat. Apart from a 50-run stand between Mitchell Marsh (30 in 25 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and skipper Pant, there was nothing much standing out for LSG in the first half.
Pant came good with a half-century, scoring 63 in 49 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes. Pant had a 53-run stand with Abdul Samad (20 in 11 balls, with two sixes) towards the end, which took LSG to 166/7 in their 20 overs. Ravindra Jadeja (2/24) and Matheesha Pathirana (2/45) were the top bowlers for CSK.
In response to President Donald Trump's recent tariff policies, Chinese social media users have created AI-generated memes and videos satirising the potential impact on American manufacturing. One notable video depicts Trump and Elon Musk working on a Nike sneaker production line, highlighting concerns over increased manufacturing costs due to tariffs. Another portrays Vice President JD Vance assembling an iPhone, further emphasising the anticipated rise in consumer prices.
In the videos, Trump and Musk are sitting side by side wearing blue jumpsuits and working on the Nike shoes, while Vice President JD Vance pieces together an iPhone, sporting denim and a red hat conspicuously missing its MAGA letters.
Watch the video here:
This AI-generated video has gone viral on social media, portraying scenes of Americans working hard in factories. It imagines what the U.S. might look like under Trump's so-called “reindustrialization” gambit. pic.twitter.com/NoRpz2yR1K
— 鳳凰衛視PhoenixTV (@PhoenixTVHK) April 10, 2025
These satirical posts, amplified by Chinese media and government officials, mock Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan by illustrating the possible consequences of his trade policies. They suggest that the tariffs may lead to higher prices for goods produced domestically or imported under the new 125% tariff rate.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has criticised the US tariffs, stating, "We are Chinese. We are not afraid of provocations. We don't back down."
The trolling videos and memes have been widely shared, amassing millions of views on TikTok, X, and other platforms.
Meanwhile, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told the head of the World Trade Organization that US tariffs will "inflict serious harm" on poor nations, according to a ministry statement released Saturday.
"These US 'reciprocal tariffs' will inflict serious harm on developing countries, especially the least developed countries, and could even trigger a humanitarian crisis," Wang told WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in a call on Friday, the statement said.
"The United States has continuously introduced tariff measures, bringing enormous uncertainty and instability to the world, causing chaos both internationally and domestically within the US," Wang added.
Beijing said Friday that its 125 percent tariffs on US goods would take effect on Saturday -- almost matching the staggering 145 percent levies imposed by Washington on Chinese goods entering the United States.
But China indicated that it would ignore any further levies by US President Donald Trump because, Beijing said, it no longer makes economic sense for importers to buy from America. China also said it would file a lawsuit with the WTO over the latest round of levies.
The Trump administration has taken a significant step in implementing a new executive order aimed at supporting Christian employees in the federal government, per a report by Politico. As part of this effort, the State Department has instructed its employees to report instances of "anti-Christian bias" within the department. This move is an attempt to address perceived discrimination against Christians, but State Department officials say it may create a culture of fear. The cable was sent out to embassies around the world under Secretary of State Marco Rubio's name.
The executive order, issued in February, tasks federal agencies with rooting out "anti-Christian bias" from the government. To achieve this, the State Department has established a task force to collect information “involving anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration” with a particular focus on anti-Christian bias. Employees are encouraged to submit reports anonymously, providing as much detail as possible, including names, dates, and locations of incidents.
The task force, set to meet around April 22, will discuss its initial findings. The reporting mechanism allows employees to submit tips via a form, which can be done anonymously. This process aims to identify and address instances of anti-Christian bias, while also collecting examples of anti-religious bias in all forms for internal purposes.
Some State Department officials have expressed concerns about the initiative, describing it as "very 'Handmaid's Tale'-esque." They argue that the effort may be based on a flawed premise, assuming the department harbours anti-Christian bias, and could create a culture of fear among employees. “Although the E.O. focuses on anti-Christian bias, targeting anyone for their religious beliefs is discriminatory and is contrary to the Constitution” and various federal laws, the notice states.
The Interfaith Alliance, a left-leaning organisation focused on religious freedom, has condemned the executive order. They argue that while the effort may appear to address stigma against Christians, particularly Catholics, it will ultimately be used to legitimise discrimination against marginalised groups, such as the LGBTQ community.
The world has heard of Donald Trump the businessman, then came Donald Trump the President, but amid growing resentment in Canada, the US President emerged in a new avatar - a supervillain.
Trump's repeated threats to annex Canada and make it the 51st state of the United States followed by his move to unleash punishing tariffs have breathed new life into a superhero from the 1970s - Captain Canuck, Canada's version of Captain America.
The Canadian superhero, cloaked in a red-and-white bodysuit and a face mask featuring the maple leaf - a prominent symbol of Canada, is a government agent with superhuman strength, whose mission is to save Canada and defend the nation's sovereignty from the 'bad guys'.
Speaking about Captain Canuck's resurgence, 74-year-old Richard Comely, the artist who co-created the comic book character, said, "All of a sudden Canadians are looking to Captain Canuck as a symbol. And it's basically, to them, Captain Canuck symbolizes independence."
US President Donald Trump's annexation threats and tariffs have breathed new life into a superhero from the 1970s — Captain Canuck, a Mountie with superhuman strength who defends Canada's sovereignty https://t.co/isx9L3RLfL pic.twitter.com/SSU7Ei89r3
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 9, 2025
Captain Canuck, whose alter ego is Tom Evans, is a Mountie - a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police - who gained his special powers after an alien encounter.
Within days of taking office, President Trump had managed to evoke an anti-American sentiment among Canadians and a feeling of resentment for him. It all started when he called the Canadian Prime Minister "Governor", and followed that up with a threat to annex US' larger northern neighbour.
President Trump, who now finds himself as a supervillain in Canadian comic books and a graphic novel-based animated series, had offered to "buy" Canada, to which the Canadian government swiftly made a counter-offer to purchase the US state of California.
Moreover, in most of his press briefings, President Trump started referring to Canada as "the 51st state", justifying how that will be "a great move" to ensure better national security for "all Americans" while also be economically wise for Canadians. This led to widespread protests against Trump with posters and placards reading "Canada Not For Sale!".
But for Canada, President Trump was behaving just like a classic graphic novel 'supervillain' - refusing to let go - in this case, of his rhetoric of wanting to annex Canada. He imposed punitive tariffs - first at a bilateral level across several industries and sectors - and then announce further "reciprocal tariffs" and some non-reciprocal ones in an attempt to crush Canada economically. So great was the pressure that Canada's interim prime minister called for sudden snap polls in order to bring a decisive government with a strong mandate to counter Donald Trump's threats and actions.
By now, Canada, an immediate neighbour of the United States and one of its closest allies for many decades, distanced itself. The two governments went from being friends to foes in a matter of weeks. Canadians never felt more strongly that the American leadership couldn't be trusted anymore.
Canadians, who take pride in their "liberal values and views" also despised the way Elon Musk was allegedly "interfering" in government beyond the United States. Some even cited Musk's moves to reportedly back the right-wing and the far-right in Europe as an example of his intentions.
And so, like in some classic comic books, Musk was portrayed as 'supervillain' Trump's sidekick - both of whom are shown being graphically manhandled and thrown out by superhero Captain Canuck. While in one frame, the comic shows Donald Trump being physically stopped by Captain Canuck, in another chapter, it shows Trump and Musk being dragged by the collar.
Captain Canuck was back in action - and an instant hit across Canada. Stores and libraries have their shelves stacked up, and Canadians seen lining up to get a copy for themselves.
Mr Comely, the co-creator of the superhero, said he created the character in the 1970s - at a moment when he thought Canadians wanted their own icon, given that the United States had Captain America.
"I think there was an undercurrent, so to speak, in Canada in the '70s. So I think Canadians were starting to feel like, you know, like they should acknowledge the fact that we had our own country, and we had our own culture and be proud of the fact that we were Canadians," Mr Comely said.
Since the first publication in 1975, there have been 4 million Captain Canuck-themed comic books, books, and graphic novels in print worldwide, Mr Comely said, adding that his original storyline envisioned Canada as a world power that faces challenges from groups seeking to infiltrate, destabilize and take over the country.
"Of course, never, never in any of those stories was it America that was going to be taking over Canada," Mr Comely said.
For the cover of Captain Canuck's 50th anniversary issue, Mr Comely depicted the superhero wagging his finger at Donald Trump, who wants Canada to become a US state. "It's got a lot of Canadians, you know, thinking about their identity as Canadians and feeling more united as Canadians. We feel like, okay, we've got to stand in opposition to these proposals," he said.
Captain Canuck and Mr Comely have had an on-again, off-again relationship with the comic book world since their start in 1975, falling silent when Comely stepped back to help raise his large family, with a brief return in the '90s charting out a different storyline in "Captain Canuck Reborn."
Since 2012, when Mr Comely entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Chapterhouse Comics, Captain Canuck has become a mainstay in the comic book scene, expanding his reach with an animated web series and memorabilia.
Mr Comely said he has received more calls from Canadian companies that have expressed "keen interest" in the fictional character due to the political tensions between the two neighboring countries.
"So in a sense, we have Mr. Trump to thank for a bit of resurgence," he said.
(Inputs from Reuters)
India likes to do things differently. While the world has been struggling to get back on its feet after US President Donald Trump pulled the rug from underneath, with his reciprocal tariffs announcement, some nations, like China and Canada retaliated shortly after, with tit-for-tat tariffs. While China countered the US' 34 per cent with the same figure, Canada mirrored the US by announcing a 45 per cent levy on the automobile sector. Several other nations reached out to Washington in order to renegotiate its own tariffs in order to evade Trump's reciprocal move.
India took a different route. It said it will not retaliate to US' 26 per cent tariff announcement, nor will it reduce the tariffs it already imposes on America. Instead, New Delhi reportedly plans to absorb, adjust, and rework the trading dynamic in a way that President Trump's reciprocal tariffs will have a minimal impact on Indian exporters. At the same time, both nations are accelerating trade talks to put in place a "win-win" trade deal. Even before Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, India placed itself in an advantageous position by becoming one of the first nations to initiate a mega trade pact with America.
In this regard, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke over a phone call on Monday. Both leaders agreed that an "early conclusion" of the bilateral trade agreement will benefit both nations. The two leaders also had a detailed discussion on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and the Indian subcontinent.
Shortly after the talks, Dr Jaishankar said that it was "Good to speak with Secretary Marco Rubio today. Exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Sub-continent, Europe, Middle East/West Asia and the Caribbean. Agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement. Look forward to remaining in touch."
Good to speak with @SecRubio today.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 7, 2025
Exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Sub-continent, Europe, Middle East/West Asia and the Caribbean.
Agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement.
Look forward to remaining in touch.…
According to news agency Reuters, an official in the government has said that New Delhi has looked into a clause of Trump's tariff order that offers a possible reprieve for trading partners who "take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements".
Another official told Reuters that India finds itself better placed than Asian peers like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which have been hit by higher US reciprocal tariffs. New Delhi and Washington have agreed to finalize an early trade deal by autumn 2025 - one that may completely resolve their differences on tariffs.
New Delhi however, has signaled that since US' reciprocal tariffs are now imposed on India, the terms of negotiations will be on equal footing, and Washington's conditions on removal of subsidies, especially on pharma and agriculture, will no longer apply.
But at the same time, India has also taken a number of steps to win over Trump, including lowering tariffs on high-end bikes and bourbon whiskey, while also completely dropping a tax it imposed on digital services that affected US tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and X, among others.
Meanwhile, India's Commerce Ministry is closely assessing the immediate impact of Trump's tariffs with all stakeholders. It said that feedback is being taken from exporters, especially those vulnerable to be impacted most - like diamond merchants. The department, it said, is also studying the opportunities that may arise from this tariff move.
India and the United States enjoy a broad-based global strategic partnership covering nearly every major domain. The relationship is driven by shared democratic values, converging strategic interests, and dynamic people-to-people engagement. High-level exchanges continue to play a key role in advancing bilateral cooperation.
Both nations also have a robust economic partnership. New Delhi and Washington have set a target to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current over $190 billion.
Both nations also invest heavily in each other. In the financial year 2023-24, the US was India's third-largest source of FDI, contributing USD 4.99 billion - around 9 per cent of total equity inflows. Indian companies are also making major investments in the US, with a 2023 CII study noting 163 Indian firms have invested over USD 40 billion, creating 425,000 direct American jobs.
(Inputs from Reuters)
Three US aid workers were laid off while in Myanmar helping the rescue and recovery from the country's massive earthquake, a former senior staffer said, as the Trump administration's dismantling of foreign aid affects its disaster response.
After travelling to the Southeast Asian nation, the three officials were told late this week they would be let go, Marcia Wong, a former official at the US Agency for International Development, told Reuters.
"This team is working incredibly hard, focused on getting humanitarian aid to those in need. To get news of your imminent termination - how can that not be demoralising?" said Wong, former deputy administrator of USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, which oversees Washington's disease response efforts overseas.
President Donald Trump's government has pledged at least $9 million to Myanmar after the magnitude-7.7 quake, which has killed more than 3,300. But his administration's massive cuts to USAID have hindered its ability to respond, while China, Russia, India and other nations have rushed in assistance.
The Trump administration has moved to fire nearly all USAID staff in recent weeks, as billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has slashed funding and dismissed contractors across the federal bureaucracy in what it calls an attack on wasteful spending.
The three USAID workers have been sleeping on the streets in the earthquake zone, Wong said, adding that their terminations would take effect in a few months. Residents have been sleeping outside for fear of aftershocks and further building collapses,
Wong said she is in contact with the remaining USAID staff and that she heard about the terminations after an all-staff meeting on Friday.
Former USAID staff say most of the people who would have coordinated the response have been let go, while third-party implementing partners have lost contracts.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday rejected criticism that Washington was slow to respond to the March 28 earthquake because USAID was dismantled.
Rather, he told reporters in Brussels, Myanmar was not "the easiest place to work", saying the military government does not like the United States and prevents it from operating in the country as it wants to.
The United Nations has said the junta was limiting humanitarian aid.
Rubio said the US would no longer be the world's top humanitarian donor, calling on other wealthy nations to step up in assisting Myanmar.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
As Greenland and Denmark, of which it is a part, have vociferously rejected Donald Trump's "strategic buyout" proposal, Washington has struck back, trying to wedge its way in. In a retort to Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Denmark must accept the fact that Greenland no longer wants to be a part of it.
"Denmark should focus on the fact that Greenlanders do not want to be a part of the country anymore. Greenlanders are going to make a decision," Mr Rubio said at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Greenland's incoming prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen immediately rejected the statement saying Mr Rubio is wrong in saying so. "He is not right that Greenland wants to secede tomorrow," he said. However, he did acknowledge that Greenland wants to attain independence in the long run.
"Greenland does not want to be Danish, but Greenland certainly doesn't want to be American either," he said, defending his country.
Speaking to local TV network TV2, Mr Nielsen said, "We work every day to build a foundation so that we can stand on our own in the future, but we are not there yet. What he (Rubio) says doesn't hold water."
The United States has made Greenland's takeover a top priority and a strategic foreign policy goal - for which it has not ruled out a military offensive either. When Donald Trump first suggested that he wants the US to "buy" Greenland, it was taken as a joke, but over the weeks and months the world understood that there is no humour in it.
Denmark, whose semi-autonomous territory Greenland does not have the diplomatic or military might to stand up to the US, has come to its rescue. But they too are feeling the pressure. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen today accused the US of subjecting Denmark and Greenland to immense "pressure and threats".
She firmly rejected US' attempts to annex Greenland, citing international law.
"You cannot annex other countries - not even under the pretext of international security," Prime Minister Frederiksen said at a press conference with top Greenlandic officials in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. "National borders, sovereignty, territorial integrity - these are rooted in international law. These principles were established after World War II so that small countries would not have to fear large ones."
"When you seek to take over part of the Kingdom (of Denmark)'s territory, when we are subjected to pressure and threats by our closest ally, what are we to think about the country we have admired for so many years?" Prime Minister Frederiksen questioned.
Both Denmark and Greenland have, for long, been close allies of the United States. The US also has a strategic military and nuclear missile base in Greenland. But President Trump's threats of annexing the arctic island rich in natural and mineral resources, has led to widespread anti-US sentiment and resentment against the Trump Administration.
Last month, Greenlanders held the largest-ever protests in the island's history against the US. Just hours ahead of a visit by US Vice President JD Vance last month, Greenland announced the formation of a new autonomous government. Four political parties, representing 23 of the 31 seats in Greenland's Parliament, signed a historic coalition agreement to establish the new government. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chairman of the Demokraatit (Democratic Party), will serve as prime minister.
US Tariff Announcement Live Updates: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a raft of tariffs, targeting countries around the world, in a move that could spark a global trade war. The tariffs threaten various sectors like the automobile, dairy, steel, and electronics.
The 78-year-old President imposed new tariffs of 34 percent on imports from China and 20 percent on imports from the European Union - two of the main US trade partners. He declared a 26 per cent "discounted reciprocal tariff" on India.
"For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike," the US President said. "This is Liberation Day," he said, adding that it would "forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed."
Mr Trump for weeks, has said his reciprocal tariff plans are a move to equalise generally lower US tariff rates with those charged by other countries and counteract their non-tariff barriers that disadvantage US exports. Global markets remained jittery for days ahead of the announcement, as various countries called for talks in this regard.
Here are the Live Updates:
Rishabh Pant has failed to score big again at the IPL 2025. After 0 (vs Delhi Capitals) and 15 (against SunRisers Hyderabad), Pant was dismissed for just 2 against Punjab Kings. Pant was picked by Sanjeev Goenka-owned Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore, making him the costliest player in IPL history. However, the initial returns have not been great from Pant. And that has has made him the target of troll on social media.
27 crore ka pahalwaan Rishabh Pant in every IPL match #LSGvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/uXu040YcCD
— maithun (@Being_Humor) April 1, 2025
Requesting BCCI to drop Rishabh Pant from Central Contract. He is not even the Top 10 wicketkeeper in India right now. @GautamGambhir @imAagarkar pic.twitter.com/VY7yVbIIVJ
— Anurag™ (@Samsoncentral) April 1, 2025
His baniya buddhi is already calculating the per ball cost of buying Rishabh Pant pic.twitter.com/ubQpw8TQHP
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 1, 2025
Sanjiv Goenka watching Rishabh Pant pic.twitter.com/7TCKghlIAs
— ICT Fan (@Delphy06) April 1, 2025
Earlier, Pant's shot selection was criticised by former CSK and MI star Ambati Rayudu, after he got out for a duck against Delhi Capitals.
"We all talked about his shot selection against spin, he is going for that six option rather than playing a four or you know to build an innings play gaps so that batsmanship quality needs to be improved in his game, especially in the middle overs if he wants to bat in the middle overs so i think i all has started from there. Once a captain gets out, you have Ayush Badoni, whose strike rate against spin is not great. It's not a great batting lineup against slow bowling that LSG has." Ambati Rayudu said as per a video by ESPNCricinfo.
Matthew Hayden also criticized Pant's, pointing out that he wasted six balls in a crucial situation after the previous over went for 28 runs against Delhi Capitals. Hayden emphasized the importance of getting off strike and keeping things simple, suggesting that Pant is capable of doing so.
"He wasted six balls as well, you know. That's batsmanship you're talking about; it might out, especially when the previous over went for 28 runs. So the reality is just try to understand you've maybe got one or two balls, but then you gotta get off strike. And he's surely good enough to do that. Just keep it simple." Matthew Hayden said as per a video by ESPNCricinfo.
Piyush Chawla spoke on Pant's defensive approach, saying he was trying to defend the ball straight, which is not ideal in T20 and ODI cricket. Chawla suggested that Pant should angle his shots slightly to get a single, as fielders are already positioned on the line, allowing his partner to face the next ball.
"When he came into bat so when he was defending the ball also he was just trying to defend the ball straight and in T20 and in one day cricket nowadays even the bowler is happy to give you one so if you just have to angle it a bit and you'll get a one and fielder is already on the line so if you just get off the strike it become better for your partner." Piyush Chawla said as per a video by ESPNCricinfo.
With ANI inputs